Note: In the course of a month I get literally thousands
of e-mail. I don't normally place correspondence in the "Mailbag"
that are either labeled "personal" or contain information of
a personal nature. As I read and answer mail, if I find a letter that
I find interesting, amusing, topical or educational, it gets filed in
my "mailbag" for future use in this feature. I try to edit out
any personal information like addresses or telephone numbers, unless the
writer specifically requests that I publish it.

I welcome all e-mail and will answer everyone in as timely
a manner as possible. Don't be surprised if you find (or don't find) your
message in this section. However, if you are concerned about your
letter finding its way into the "Mailbag", simply include in
the header or at the beginning of message "personal" and I will
honor your request. GEM

Passing of a Warrior:

February 15, 2005: Al Moulton - - - Suffers fatal heart attack!
I received a call this morning from Chong, Al's wife, informing me of
his death. Until the end, Al continued to post on these forums.
His last email to me was February 2nd:

A week ago Thursday
I was rushed to the hospital with chest pains ala 911. Spent the weekend
there. Beat the Grim Reaper again. Today, received results of the tests.
I have permanent damage to the ole ticker. I guess dieting and exercise
sometimes don't make any difference. I'm going out for Pork Ribs and beer
tonight, F'k 'em all.

cya.

Allen

Al was a very proud person. He didn't complain, even though he lived
his last twenty years of his life (following a serious accident) in constant
pain. He was a tireless advocate for Uechi-ryu and participated in as
many activities, tournaments and classes as possible.

Al is best known for writing a number of excellent Uechi-ryu text books
and for his contributions to these forums.

Because of his illness, Al was unable to work for the past year. They
didn't have insurance and his health problems drained all savings. Although
she didn't ask, I believe she would appreciate any financial help the
Uechi community could provide. Please send any donations to:

Chong Moulton
45830 High Way to Heaven Lane
Great Mills, Maryland 20634

Thanks
_________________
GEM

News From Okinawa. . .

Sensei Mattson,

Wish you have settle with housing ordeal. Well, my housing ordeal is
coming around the middle of March. The day my household good will is delivered
to Okinawa. Anyway, we are now settling at temporary lodging now.

I was awfully wonder when the mail bag will be updated. I understand
that you were moving to Florida and real busy to move one state to the
other (especially North to down South). Your mail bag is one of my reading
pleasure and connection to Uechi-Ryu study. Since I am in Okinawa, I could
be a bridge to US and Okinawa. Okinawa people resent that be called Japanese!
As a matter of fact, the last correspondence in October publication, Mr.
Jack Scarborough was requesting Master Shinjo Kiyohide’s address.
I can assist on this!
Sincerely,
Scott (Tsukasa).Higa, PE

PS. I will drive up there and find the address for your next correspondence
to Mr. Scaborough. You know how close from Kadena Air Force base to the
Kadena Dojo to so called Kadena rotary (I wonder you still remembered
his dojo is in the Kadena Circle!).

Sensei Mattson,

This is the latest update on Shinjo dojo in Okinawa. I took a little
trip to see sensei Kiyohide Shinjo~. To my surprise, his dojo has moved
to North West about 3 miles from present site! There is no sign of Sensei
Shinjo's Dojo in the Kadena circle, but the gravel on the ground. You
have to go to Northwest \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/~/\/\/~ (it meant to express snake
road!) for 15 minutes -if you can find it! Well, anyway I will give you
his phone number and Phone No. Address: 119-2 Toguchi, Yomitan-Son Okinawa,
Japan 904-0315; Phone No: 098-957-1537(home);090-3792-0949 (Cell phone).
It is not easy to find for American who is used to find the business establishment
in the narrow road. If someone wish to visit his dojo, I don't mind to
tell direction or take there if you are in Okinawa or you are visiting
soon.
Ciao!
Scott HigaF

Sanchin Breathing. . .

Sensei Mattson...I'm new to goju ryu. Does Uechi ryu teach Sanchin kata
with open hands and relaxed breathing? I find that when I do the kata
open handed, contrary to goju's closed hands, my hands are much heavier
and stronger when the kata is complete. I know you are a busy man...but
I ask you because you are the MAN. Due to age considerations, I may pursue
a different avenue in karate and Uechi ryu looks very interesting. Thank
you, sir for any time you could give to this message. Respectfully...Dennis
McCole

Hi Dennis:

Thanks for writing
and asking about such an interesting subject. I’m 67 and still very
active with my Uechi-ryu. The nice thing about Uechi, is that it can be
done by people of all ages and strength. According to the historians,
Miagi, Chojin modified the kata into a “breathing exercise”.
I’ve also tried doing the Uechi sanchin in this manner and found
it “unnatural” and difficult. However, many students of goju
like it that way and claim they derive strength from performing it with
the “heavy” breathing and closed fist.

Probably best
to experiment with both and decide which direction to travel after determining
which style is best for you.

Our Forums, especially
Bill Glasheen’s, has discussed this subject before and I know if
you post your question there, you will get lots more expert opinions from
both camps.

Stay in touch
and good luck.

George Mattson

Hi George, happy new year hope you and Susan and Tia are well..
THought you might enjoy this article for EA website???

Best,
Ethan

Ethan B. Miller

Learning From the Masters, Part 1. Efficiency in Individual Training

The annual Summer Camp on Cape Cod hosted by George Mattson-Sensei has
been an excellent way to gain knowledge from the masters -- of various
martial arts. However since I believe in the necessity of training alone
for a good portion of your training time how do you maximize the benefits
of these types of events? How do you distill this information to suit
your needs and how do you maintain it? Or should you just hang by the
pool and soak it in?

My goal here is to give a few tips from my experience that might benefit
other students.

Those with a busy schedule, those with pressures of a constant nature
or an uneven nature should appreciate this information. The minimum time
for working out on a daily basis is 20 minutes and this is more a technical
workout than a cardiovascular workout, that still means that you must
be doing your Uechi kata and propelling yourself through space. The maximum
time should be about an hour, this is on a daily basis, remember.

The idea is to develop a baseline workout that you can maintain, though
in an hour timeframe you can do some more rigorous working out.

One of the things I picked up from “The Hut” training in
Newton is how inbetween the kata training different drills were interspersed.
Rarely, when I was at the hut did we go from one kata to the next in a
straight progression. For my individual training I miniaturized this idea
for a shortened excersise increment. This idea also grew from the necessity
to regain the focus to do a kata. My solution came from the need to steady
my mind. After completing a kata I would bow and begin walking in a circle
roughly the circumference of the space I filled doing the kata. As I regained
my focus I moved on to the next kata. Occaisionally, while walking in
a circle I would switch my feet and head in the other direction. I made
sure to try and let my thoughts go. As I got more comfortable doing this
I would concentrate on my feet more and getting in a good stance while
walking. I had been doing some reading on other styles and the philosophy
behind some of the circular styles of asian martial arts. I wasn’t
quite sure where it was going but the ongoing movement while resting was
interesting.

Then I got worried about something else. Lots of my Uechi brothers and
Sisters and members of my Martial Arts family were doing weapons training.
How was I going to keep pace, while maintaining a busy schedule of non-training
type events? I had (have) to work for a living.

My solution was remembering one of the favorite instructors at the summer
camp. Jim Maloney-Sensei. Maloney-Sensei does an annual pressure point
seminar which leaves the student speechless. The knife training portion,
attacks and disarms, takedowns come-alongs are not to be missed. I hope
he teaches forever.

After six or seven summer camps and a basic certification in the pressure
point course and review of the knive attack and defense on tape. I wondered
how I could stay sharp on this set of drills. Much like my kata, and other
skill sets -- I hate to lose things that I have taken the time to memorize.
So, I purchased a wood Tanto and tucked it into my waistband and proceeded
to add the seven cuts of the set to my walking in a circle. Then I would
swap the knive over to my other hand and do the same set again. Then I
would proceed to the next kata after replacing the knive in my waistband.
Eventually, I would add all the knive defenses to walking in a circle.
I don’t kid myself that I would be able to match any of Maloney-Sensei’s
regular students but this addition to my workout has proven to help my
stability, and even my running.

WinterFest, 2005:

George,

It was truly an honor and priviledge to attend winterfest. It was probably
one of the best experiences I have ever had. I cannot wait to share what
I have learned with my dojo. Thank you so much for everything.

I'll see you with my son at summerfest !!!

Mary Janson

Hi George:

Happy Holiday to you and Susan. How is the move going, are you all set
in your new digs? I will be attending the Winter Fest on the Friday seminar
date. If there is anything I can help with please let me know. Look forward
to seeing you take care.

Jon Cierri

Good to see you
at WinterFest Jon. Sorry that more Floridians couldn't make it. GEM

Hi Sensei,

Thank you very much for the reply and best of luck with your new house.
My Sensei is Frank Gorman from Clearwater, FL (formerly of Rhode Island
and MA) and I have also studied with his friend Walter Mattson in Framingham,
MA for about a year while I was doing some work for Dupont in Boston.
I liked your area of the Northeast but I do not care much for your winters.
I think you will find that acclimatizing to Orlando will take about 30
seconds. That's about 10 seconds longer than it took me when I moved here
from NJ. The older I get the more I appreciate the sun and mild weather.
I will be looking forward to the WinterFest and have a great Holidays.

Bob Mascharka

Scotland Seminar. . .

Hello George,
if anyone happens to be in the vicinity of Arran (Scotland) at the end
of July they are welcome to attend our open gasshuku. Details attached.
It's not quite free but the cost is only £5.00 (say $7.50) for 3
days training, so not massively commercial!
Harry Cook

TRIP TO ISLE OF ARRAN
WEEKEND OF
29TH/30TH/31ST JULY/1ST/2ND AUGUST 2005

Looking for dojo. . .

Hello Mr. Mattson,
i am inquiring about a reputable school in the NOrth of Boston area for
studying Uechi Ryu.
My father ,Salvatore Misuraca, studied under you and Mr Bob Campbell in
boston years ago and i feel the need and calling to now follow in his
footsteps. any guidance would be greatly appreciated. i live on the new
hampshire border.
thanks
sincerely
Marc Misuraca

Check the dojo/instructor
listing Marc. Please give Sal my very best regards and ask him to join
the gang at the "Hut" on Saturdays. GEM

Dear Mr. Mattson,

Years ago, I was a student of Duane Lucia's at his dojo in Boston. I loved
Uechi Ryu and would like to find a dojo that teaches this style for my
young daughter. Are you aware of any in Fairfield County, CT (I live in
Stamford, CT near Greenwich, CT and Norwalk, CT).
Any help would be most appreciated,

Karate practitioners, and Uechi-ryu stylists in particular, will find
a complete and thorough presentation of the Uechi-ryu system in Ihor Rymaruk’s
martial tome. Rymaruk’s work is a pragmatic and candid technical
presentation of what students in this discipline can expect in their training
up to an advanced level.

The book’s layout provides amply spaced text and generous technical
photo displays reducing the feel of the book’s thickness. The photos
and text are clearly laid out making it an easy and open read.

Rymaruk, a master teacher and lifetime Uechi-ryu practitioner, provides
a clearly written and informative overview of Uechi-ryu’s history,
distinctive stylistic qualities, and foundational techniques. Additional
supplementary materials include self-defense applications against both
firearms and edged-weapons attacks. Historical and archival photos of
Okinawan teachers, geography, and local culture punctuate the work.

A great deal of attention is given to Uechi-ryu’s unique open-hand
strike and block formations and, in particular, the circling blocks of
one of Okinawa’s oldest forms, the Sanchin kata. Rymaruk presents
all the essential technical and conceptual building blocks of Sanchin—the
first and most significant form in the Uechi system. Goju-ryu, Isshin-ryu,
and Shorin-ryu proponents should note the variations.

Rymaruk is clear to state that his work is “a discussion and exposition
of technique,” accumulated over his nearly forty years of training
experience. He avoids philosophical speculations, instead concentrating
upon Uechi’s practical nature: what works and how to achieve that
goal. There are few works in English regarding Uechi-ryu karate outside
of George Mattson’s classic book Uechiryu Karate Do (1974), and
Alan Dollar’s Secrets of Uechi Ryu Karate and the Mysteries of Okinawa
(1996) that cover this breadth of technique.

The book contains some superfluous testimonials by students—plus
sections on training women and children and resource information on martial
arts and criminal law—giving the work its personalized air as a
student manual for Rymaruk’s association. Nevertheless, practitioners
of any martial art will find technical gems, whether it be in the broad
coverage of basic conditioning exercises, the unique hand formations and
toe kicks, the pre-arranged sparring (yakusoku kumite) sets, or simply
Rymaruk’s straightforward philosophy.

Though this book may appear an overwhelming manual to a beginning Uechi-ryu
student, it offers invaluable insight into the discipline and will no
doubt become a historical landmark for both the preservation and the evolution
of the Okinawan martial disciplines.

REVIEWED BY: Christopher Goedeke, B.S. Fairfield University

Congratulations
Ihor. Great review! GEM

Jeet Kune Do anyone??

Hi Sensei,
Hope things are going well for you. I have a question. I am 52 years old
and have been training since 1973. I am certified in Jeet Kune Do and
Filipino Martial Arts under Paul Vunak, and Muay Thai under Suwat Sidthilaw
of Thailand.

I was wondering if you may know anyone who would be interested in adding
a Filipino Weapons program to their curriculum. I will come to their school,
give them private lessons and then do a seminar for them. We are mobile,
so my wife and I would come around about every three months to keep them
ahead of their students. Some instructors have had me come in and teach
them and their assistant instructors, then we do a one or two day seminar
for the rest. I will work it out anyway they want to do it. My rates are
very reasonable, and I offer total support by phone or email for everyone.
I realize this is probably something you wouldn't know without asking
around. But, if you get any interest feel free to give them my email address.

Also, I have an article coming out in an upcoming issue of Inside Kung
Fu Magazine, and I am releasing a DVD on how to develop hand speed in
the next couple of weeks. Thanks a lot and I look forward to hearing from
you.

Yours in the Tao,
Sifu Rick Caudle
www.geocities.com/tnjkd

Uechi Championship eGroup Membership. . .

My name is Bruce Hamilton. I have the rank of shodan.I am trying to gain
as much information on uechi-ryu because i am going to open my own dojo
in Fredericton.I want to be in the loop.

Welcome to the
"Officials" e-group Bruce. Stay in touch. GEM

GEM Newsletter Feedback. . .

Nice to see the comments re Gushi sensei. I trained with him in California
a couple of years back. I really liked his unpretentious direct approach
to training, just like Morio Higaonna sensei. This kind of simplicity
is refreshing and it would be nice to se more of it.
Yours,
Harry Cook

Thanks for the newsletter and I hope you like Florida. Joshua is in Melborne
at FIT, and he says there is too much sun! My to infrequent trips to Massachusetts
to visit the Hut just won't be the same. As a long time motorcycle rider,
Harley owner and HOG member I really liked your comments on observing
the Drill Team. It really is difficult, and requires a great deal of skill.
The best make it look very easy. (sound familiar?)

I know what you mean about how intimidating some of those guys can look.
Sometimes I forget how I might appear to the "general public"
when I am in full leathers, steel towed boots, etc.

Good to hear from you, hope you and Sue have a merry Christmas, and maybe
I'll see you at Daytona some spring!

Still working out as often as possible in Collegeville, though it is
difficult with my current work schedule. Steve's students are coming along
very nicely, which is great to see!

Andrew Peterson

From: jon jackson

If you ever get a HOG, I would love to ride with you. Just read your
article. My name is Jon Jackson and I work in Lakeland (Not far from Orlando)
and train under Frank Gorman. I studied in my earlier years in Providence
under Charles Earle, and years later am back training religiously again.
I guess it never gets out of your blood. My best friend is Scott Higa
who you had at your bootcamp recently. He just left for Okinawa to work
there. Anyway, welcome to sunny Florida (not the past couple of days though....COLD!!!),
Jon Jackson

Beautiful bike
Jon. My friend Al Moulton bought one just like it and brought it over
for me to see a couple months ago.

Hope to see you
and some of your fellow students at WinterFest in February. Hoping to
attract some of the Harley/Uechi people to the event. Even a couple of
Massachusetts riders are planning to come. (If weather permits) Stay in
touch.

Best,

George

Happy New Year George Sensei... and to Susan and Tia too!

Sounds
like quite an adventure you all had. Having been through some scary
family moves (bad weather, overturned moving vans, demolished goods
etc.) I can sympathize! I wish you all luck in your new digs and
I hope the locals there come to appreciate the treasure which has
just moved into their back yard.

I'm sure they will. Attached is a picture from tonight's black
& brown belt workout held once a month in my dojo here in Gaithersburg
or my senior student Stanley Crump's (2nd from right) dojo an hour
away away in Ellicott City, MD. Tonight was in Gaithersburg with
a special awemori New Year's toast at the end.. I hope that Greg
Postal can visit more frequently as well; although he's understandably
very busy with med school and teaching on base. Be well and happy
and thanks for keeping me in the loop.

Rik Lostritto

The Canadian Military Update. . .

Thought you all might get a kick out of these. The were taken at
ARCON 02 and ARCON 04 in Gagetown.

Cheers

Brian Bailey

Old Friends. . .

Dear George,

Just a quick e-mail - I should be doing my Tax books instead...

I am still in Mallorca. I spent an interesting weekend as guest on Pat
McCarthy in Amsterdam. Pat very honest and good fun.. . .. Playing with
the karate boys in the seminar was good fun and I did not feel out of
my depth at all - but we were doing basic hand drills a lot. I wish I
could say the same for my trapping / locking / Chi Na skills which are
non existant.

We are now 7 people here training, and sometimes other teachers come
to stay for a few days to see what I do ( basics as always I am afraid!!
). This basics emphasis probably started with your old book all those
years ago so I just blame you.

The seminar with Jim Hulse at the club I know went very well. I saw some
videos and was very impressed with him. I took a crane push hands session
with the club at Xmass and the black belts gave me a Shodan Ho ( I think
it is honorary ) and then we consumed Haku Tsuru Saki together. This was
very nice - I think the higher belts had just got tired of me coming in
my white one for the last 10 years, but I will keep the lovely black belt
for my dressing gown here and still wear the white one out and about.

I have another baby on the way, and am back to China in a couple of months
before my wings get clipped again.

Anyway, I Hope you and your family are well,

Best Wishes,

Martin Watts
( from Bournemouth )

Martin has also
been seen on Rik Wilson's Forum... GEM

New Friends. . .

hi my name is josh martin. ive been taking uechi ryu for 2 years. I am
a white belt with a 6' green stripe. My sensei is Bill Mckeljohn. ( i
dont know how to spell his last name) he is a 4th degree. I am going to
keep at this karate till the day i die. I just wanted to get that out
in the air.

Sensei:

I just “eulogized” your moving to Florida on the Ultimate
Black Belt Test web site: www.ultimateblackbelttest.com

Go the homepage and click on “Journals”. If you have a had
time finding the link, I’ve included the text below.

Thank you for being such a positive influence over the years and—of
course—for your consiste